Vehicle propulsion and steering mechanism



Oct. 20, 1931. G. E. BARRETT 1,828,538

' VEHICLE PROPULSION AND STEERING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nventar v Georfq 22771 7 2 Oct. 20; 1931.' G. E. BARRETT 1,828,638 VEHICLE PROPULSION AND STEERING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 26. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l7 7 14 1,! 7' 9 "All 10 F A /e A? I I.

n7 w l /0 /3 Inventor Gea d? Z 327762 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1931 9 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE 11:. BARRETT, or FORT WAYNEyIN'DIANA EHICLE moruiasron AND STEERING MECHANISM Application. filed January 26, 1928, Serial n. 249,647. Renewed July 15, 1931.

' This invention relates to new and useful improvements in propelling and steering means for motor vehicles and has for its primary object to provide propelling and steer- 3 ing mechanism for dispensing with the well p movement 'withrespect to the frame, and in opposite directions, the rear power wheels being preferably connected direct to the power shaft of the motors. Furthermore, the forward axle of the machine is pivoted at its "center to the frame of the machine and is connected adjacent opposite ends by tie rods to the inner ends of the motors at the rear of the frame so that when: the forward a-xle is swungppon its pivot to cause the steeringof the machine, the said motors will be swung in reverse dlrectlons for movmg the rear traction wheels obliquely at an opposite di-- rection to the oblique angle of the wheels of the forward axle. Obviously, this will result in the short turning of the machine when the same is traveling either forwardly or reversely.

l0 In the'drawings wherein there is disclosed the most preferred embodiment of the pres ent invention: 1 v

Figure 1' is a top plan view of a vehicle chassis constructed in accordance with the 5 present invention, the position of the parts being as disclosed when the vehicle is moving in a straight llne.

Figure 2 is a detail transverse sectlon through the rear end. of the machine takenlo substantially upon the line 22 of Figure 1.

Now having particular reference to the drawings, there is disclosed a vehicle chassis including a pair of longitudinal frame bars 55 that converge inwardly'toward the forward ends thereof, said forward-ends of the frame bars being connected by a short cross iece 6. Furthermore, at the forward ends of these bars 5-5 the same are equipped with opposed segmental arms 77. Pivoted in-z termediate its ends to the connecting member 6 between the side bars 55 is a transverse front axle 8, while arranged upon the ends of the axleare the usual tired wheels 99.

Interconnecting the side frame bars 55 at the rear ends thereof is a pair of spaced parallel frame bars 10'1O arranged between the centers of which is a' fuel tank 11. Ex tending longitudinally between these parallel bars 10l() at opposite sides vof the fuel tank 11 are inwardly curved pairs of runner or track bars, those of each pair'being designated 12-12. Intermediate the transverse spaced parallel bars 1010 between the frame bars 5-5 said runner or track bars are in spaced parallel relation as disclosed in the sectional view of Figure 5.

Intermediate the transverse spaced paral-' lel frame bars 101O the side frame bars 55 are formed with two longitudinally extending and parallel elongated openings disclosed in Figure 4.

'Arranged between said side frame bars 5.5 and the pairs of rail or track bars 1212 are motors 13--13 arranged so that the power shafts thereof will extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine as disclosed. If the size of the machine is such as to function more properly with a 'six cylinder power plant, each of the motors 13 is of the three cylinder variety and will'combine to produce the desired power.

' The crank case of each motor 13 is formed at its opposite ends with'bearing projections 1 1-14: within which the ends of the respective crank shaft are 'journaled as suggested by the dotted lines at the right hand end of Figure 2. The outer end of each crank shaft extends beyond the outermost collar, and

has keyed thereto a suitable traction wheel 16. These outermost bearing projections 14 of said motors are pivoted within the eyes 5' of the frame bars 5-5 as also more clearly disclosedin Figure 4. The innermost projections. 14 are equipped with suitable rollers or bearings for engagement with the rail or track bars 12-42 so as to provide an antifront pair of wheels, a stub shaft for each of the rear pair of wheels, the rear wheels being positioned on the outer ends of the said stub shafts, pivotal connections between the outer end portions of the stub shafts and the vehicle, a connecting rod interposed between the inner end of each-stub shaft and the adjacent end portion of the front shaft, and manual means for swinging the front shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. GEORGE E. BARRETT.

able manually operable steering mechanism 19 and it will be obvious that when the axle isswung to the position disclosed in Figure 3'the'motors l 313 will swing within their support in opposite directions with respect to each other tand'opposite to the swinging movement of-the axle 8 soias to cause the f movement of the'rear traction wheels at an oblique angle opposite to the oblique angle of the front wheels 99 resulting in the short turning of the machine.

Furthermore, it will be seen that this character of propulsion and steering mechanism for vehicles will overcome the requirement of the now mechanism. ,1 v v Any suitable-means may be provided for conveying the fuel-from the tank 11 to the motors l313 by means preferably consisting of a cross pipe 20 having communication I with the tank intermediate its endsand being connected at its opposite ends to themotors through the medium of swivelled connectlOfl 21-21 I a It is of course to be understood that -suitable bearings are to be provided between the front axle 8 and the frame. of the machine and that suitable bearings are to be provided at other points where required, the drawings illustrating in a broad manner the general the present invention."

principles of construction and operation of Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a vehicle comprising front and rear T airs of wheels, acommon axle shaft for the ront pair ofwheels, a stub shaft for each of the rear pair of wheels, the rear wheels being positioned on the outer ends of the said stub shafts, pivotal connections between the outer necessary difierential end'portions of the stub'shafts and the vehide, a connecting rod interposed between the inner end of each stub shaft and the adjacent end portion of the front shaft, a crank,'a connecting rod between the crank and the front shaft, and manual means for actuating the crank. I e

2. In a vehicle comprising front and'rear pairs of wheels, a coon axle shaft for the 

